Plant guide · October birth flower
Marigold
Bright, tough and hard to kill. Marigolds flower from early summer until frost, love the heat, and are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed.
Warda PatelDreamDrop Gardens, Plano TX7 min readUpdated October 2026
About marigolds
Marigolds are sunny summer flowers that live for one season. They grow fast, bloom nonstop through hot weather, and come in yellow, gold, orange, red and cream.
They have a strong, spicy smell, which is why many gardeners plant them in vegetable beds. In India and Mexico they're more than a garden flower: they're strung into garlands for weddings, festivals and remembrance.
Good to know: 'pot marigold' (calendula) is a different plant, even though the names are similar.
Quick facts
- Lives for
- One season (annual)
- Sun
- Full sun, 6+ hours
- Water
- Low to moderate
- Height
- 6 inches to 4 feet
- Plant apart
- 8 to 18 inches
- Blooms
- Early summer to frost
- Seed to flower
- About 2 to 3 months
- Pets
- Mildly toxic to cats and dogs
Three kinds you'll see
African marigold
Tall (2–4 ft) with big, round pom-pom flowers. The one used in garlands in India and for Día de Muertos in Mexico.
French marigold
Short (6–18 in) and bushy, often two-toned. Great along paths and in pots.
Signet marigold
Small, simple flowers on lacy, lemon-scented leaves. The petals are edible.
How to care for them
When they bloom
From early summer until the first frost. Where summers are very hot, they often flower best in fall.
- January: not in season
- February: not in season
- March: not in season
- April: not in season
- May: in flower
- June: in flower
- July: in flower
- August: in flower
- September: best month
- October: best month
- November: in flower
- December: not in season
- Sun
- At least 6 hours of direct sun. In shade they get tall and floppy and flower poorly.
- Water
- Water deeply at the base of the plant, then wait until the top inch of soil is dry. Try not to wet the leaves.
- Soil
- Ordinary soil that drains well. Too much compost or fertilizer gives you leaves instead of flowers.
- Cold and frost
- Frost kills them. Plant after your last frost in spring; the first hard frost in fall ends the season. They live one season in every zone.
- Heat
- They love it. One of the best flowers for long, hot summers.
- Deadheading
- Pinch off dead flowers every week or two so new ones keep coming.
- Pests
- Mostly trouble-free. In hot, dry weather watch for spider mites; a strong spray of water helps.
- End of season
- Leave a few flowers to dry on the plant and save the seeds for next year.
Are they good in a vase?
Yes. Tall African marigolds especially last a long time once cut, and their warm colors are perfect for fall bouquets, Indian wedding garlands and Día de Muertos.
- How long they last
- About 7 to 10 days in a vase.
- When to cut
- When the flower is open but the center is still tight.
- Keep them fresh
- Pull off every leaf that would sit under water (they make the water cloudy fast). Trim the stems and change the water every couple of days.
- Pairs well with
- Cosmos, zinnias, dahlias, celosia and grasses.
Can you dry or press them?
Marigolds dry very well, but the flowers are too thick to press whole.
- Hang to dryGood
- Tie small bunches and hang them upside down somewhere dark and dry for 2–3 weeks. The color stays bright.
- PressingPetals only
- Whole flowers are too bulky. Press the loose petals instead, or press small signet marigolds.
- Silica gelGood
- Keeps the round shape and the brightest color. Ready in about a week.
Colors they come in
Mostly warm colors, from lemon yellow to deep red-brown, plus a few creams.
- Lemon yellowAfrican and French
- GoldThe classic
- OrangeThe garland color
- Red and mahoganyFrench types
- Creame.g. 'Kilimanjaro'
- Two-tonedRed and gold French types
Where they come from
Marigolds come from the Americas, even though some are called 'African' and 'French'.
Mexico, long ago
The Aztecs grew marigolds for medicine and ceremonies. They called them cempasúchil, meaning 'twenty flowers'. Mexico still uses them to honor loved ones on Día de Muertos.
1500s: across the ocean
Spanish and Portuguese sailors carried the seeds to Europe, Africa and India.
India
Marigolds, or genda phool, became part of daily life in India. They're strung into garlands for weddings, Diwali and other festivals, offered at temples, and hung over doorways for good luck. India is now one of the biggest marigold growers in the world.
The confusing names
English gardeners got their marigolds from France and North Africa, so they called them 'French' and 'African'. The names stuck.
The best way to plant them
Marigolds are one of the easiest flowers to start yourself. Here are your three options.
- Our pick
From seed
Easy · Flowers in about 2–3 months · Cheapest
Seeds sprout in about a week in warm soil and grow fast. The cheapest way to get lots of plants.
- Sow outside after your last frost, about ¼ inch deep. Or start them indoors 6–8 weeks earlier.
- Keep the soil warm and damp until sprouts appear.
- Thin them out so plants are 8–18 inches apart.
From young plants (liners)
Easy · Flowers in 3–5 weeks · Mid-price
Liners are small starter plants grown in trays. They skip the tricky seedling stage and flower weeks sooner.
- Plant after your last frost, at the same depth they sat in the tray.
- Water well and keep damp for the first week.
- Pinch off the tips once for bushier plants.
From a grown plant
Easiest · Flowers right away · Highest price
Already in bloom, so you get color the day you plant. Best for pots, gifts and quick fall color.
- Pick plants with lots of buds, not just open flowers.
- Plant in full sun and water deeply.
- Pinch off dead flowers to keep it blooming.
Questions people ask us
Do marigolds come back every year?
Most don't. They live for one season and die at the first frost. They often drop seeds, though, so new plants may pop up next year.
Do marigolds keep pests away?
Partly. French marigolds can reduce some tiny soil worms (nematodes) when planted thickly for a season. The idea that they keep most bugs away is mostly folklore.
Are marigolds safe for pets?
They're rated mildly toxic to dogs and cats. Eating them can upset the stomach, and the sap can irritate skin.
Can you eat marigolds?
Signet marigold petals are edible and taste a bit citrusy. Calendula (pot marigold) is edible too, but it's a different plant.
Why is the marigold the October birth flower?
Marigold shares October with cosmos. Marigolds are at their best in fall and stand for warmth, love and remembrance.